If taking fans away to games was in the criteria Huddersfield and Wigan would get booted out!

It's about giving something to the game. Hull, rovers, leeds, teams like that do have fans that will travel, giving something to the game and clubs. Usually in big numbers aswell. Need more fan bases like that

well at least saints, wire , wigan and salford will be happy! all within a bus ride, at least they will benefit from leigh away fans........

Super league has no ambition at all .

No I haven’t.

However, has anyone got confidence that Rugby League has made the decision completely objectively?

As I said previously, I have no issue with Leigh as a club, however what value will a small town in close proximity to St Helens, Wigan, Warrington and Salford bring to the game?

The impact on broadcasting, sponsorship and investment too the game will zero.

Until things change the only thing the game has got to look forward to is Bachelors Mushy Peas, one tin or two?

For me it had to be Toulouse, then London then York - Choosing Leigh just makes a mockery of the sport and people on the outside must be laughing at the state of the game. Leigh have signed some reasonable players but they'll still finish bottom and likely go down again

I know Toulouse would be a risk with the ongoing Covid issues but they were the only chance in helping the game grow not just Super League but French RL too - they should of been given the nod and then no relegation with another side coming in next year till we get to 14 teams

I remember Leigh v Leeds at Wembley 1970s Challenge cup final, Alex Murphy and Syd Hynes tangling, Syd was the first player sent off in a Challenge cup final at Wembley, Alex won the Lance Todd trophy as Leigh won the final, 80,000 plus fans that day. I was a teenager, and Leigh always gave Hull a hard game, when we encountered them.

Their town and fans are entrenched in rugby league folklore, they will bring more supporters than Toulouse or London, as I said whoever they decided on, was fine by me, just don’t get the negativity because one of the traditional teams have been chosen.

Playing in winter and players being part time and spending most of the week darn t'pit is also entrenched in rugby league folklore, doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Typical of those running the sport that we chuck out Toronto and any chance of the sport taking off in Ottawa or New York and instead bring in another team from a town in northern England.

Hopefully Leigh are relagated next season and we see either London or Toulouse in Super League in 2022.

Thinking it through, they may have given it to Leigh as Covid could still affect the first half of the season and Toulouse would have brought extra complications with travel, just like Cats did recently.

Toulouse might be a have a good chance of promotion, so would be better placed for Super League in 2022 when travel is easier.

If Leigh have funds, they may now be looking to pay a nice transfer fee for a marque International Second Row forward within easy commuting distance of their ground!?!

Toronto bid ..."“As part of our comprehensive investigation into this whole subject , Super League appointed an independent committee of sports industry experts, with representation from The RFL, to examine commercial opportunities for rugby league in Canada.
“Its findings were unanimous - that operating a team in a fiercely competitive North American sports market was non-strategic and added no material incremental revenue to Super League in the short or medium term.

Not what I'd call "chucking out".

Lol I’ll take Haddock & Chips, and a pint of Tetley,

You can keep your escargot and flat eight quid lager, while you sit facing empty stadiums, lording how much of an expansionist you are.

So they accept a team within ten miles of three other Super League clubs and within twenty miles of four Premier League football clubs.

You could pretty much say the same about 4 of the other applicants.
Toulouse is 900 miles away, a crazy and pointless distance to travel, a bit like Catalans and Toronto.

What are you hoping for? A team from Lancashire, a team from Yorkshire, and the rest spread across the globe?

Just not sure on this one to be honest. I thought York were probably the best option for me. The stumbling block for Toulouse I think was probably the current Covid situation and any possible disruption that could cause to the new season. London again another club who I’d have had in before Leigh to be honest.
Just think York, Toulouse or London had more to offer the game as a whole than Leigh.